Welcome to the great deflate! How growing number of celebs are 'ditching fillers' from their faces to achieve a more natural appearance

For years, cosmetic surgery has dominated Hollywood, with plumped lips, sculpted cheeks, frozen expressions and impossibly smooth skin helping define the beauty standard. 

But now, a growing number of famous faces appear to be turning their backs on filler and Botox - and embracing their natural features once again.

A quiet shift has been taking place in the celebrity world. Actors are recognising natural movement as an important part of their craft, while influential figures are celebrating their individuality and promoting a more realistic approach to beauty.

Welcome to the Great Deflate.

After years of being convinced that bigger lips, sharper cheekbones and smoother skin meant better looks, celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Kristin Davis and Megan McKenna have spoken openly about the procedures they have since chosen to reverse, dissolve or remove.

Now, fans are wondering whether the trend has reached celebrity royalty, too. 

Nicole Kidman has recently sparked speculation that she may have undergone a similar reversal, after appearing with a noticeably more relaxed look during recent public appearances. However, there has been no confirmation that the actress has ever used filler.

But what do the experts make of it? Four aesthetic and surgical professionals weigh in on eight women in the spotlight... 

Nicole Kidman 

Then: Nicole Kidman has previously admitted to trying Botox and later said she regretted it

Now: While there has been no confirmation that she has reversed any cosmetic work, fans have been quick to speculate on recent footage featuring the star with a noticeably more relaxed look

Nicole Kidman has left fans wondering whether she could be the latest star to embrace a more natural look. 

The 59-year-old actress who has previously admitted to trying Botox and later said she regretted it, appeared noticeably more relaxed during a recent appearance on  The One Show alongside her Practical Magic 2 co-star Sandra Bullock.

While there has been no confirmation that she has reversed any cosmetic work, or had any such work done, fans have been quick to speculate on recent footage featuring the star. 

Under a video message Nicole filmed for Lane Cove Public School in August, one eagle-eyed fan joked: '[Oh my God,] did her face actually move (a little)?' 

Dr Tom Kamal, aesthetic doctor and founder of The Dr Tom Clinic, said: 'In the previous image, Nicole appears to have more fullness through the mid-face as well as under eye area, which could be consistent with filler. 

'In the more recent picture, that fullness has reduced and her face looks softer and more natural. 

'Interestingly, she isn't showing significant volume loss, which could suggest that rather than moving away from filler completely, she may simply be using much smaller, strategically placed amounts to preserve volume without looking overfilled.'

Kristin Davis 

Then: Kristin Davis, 61, has spoken openly about having her fillers dissolved after feeling unhappy with the way her face had changed, paired with the vicious comments she received online

Now: Lately, the Sex and the City star has been sporting a stripped-back look - proving that sometimes less really is more

Kristin Davis, 61, has spoken openly about having her fillers dissolved after feeling unhappy with the way her face had changed, paired with the vicious comments she received online. 

She told The Telegraph in 2023: 'I have done fillers and it’s been good and I’ve done fillers and it’s been bad. I’ve had to get them dissolved and I’ve been ridiculed relentlessly. And I have shed tears about it. It’s very stressful.'

Lately, the Sex and the City star has been sporting a stripped-back look - proving that sometimes less really is more. 

Anastasia Koles, Aesthetic Nurse and founder of ALTA Medi Clinic London weighed in: 'Kristin has spoken openly about having facial filler dissolved after being unhappy with some of her previous results. 

'You can really see the difference in the more recent image, with less fullness through the face and much softer, more natural contours. 

'It's a good example of how reducing excess volume can actually make the face look more balanced and rejuvenated, rather than relying on adding more filler.'

Courtney Cox 

Then: In the past, Courteney Cox, 62, admitted that she became so accustomed to having fillers that she failed to notice how much her face had changed

Now: It was only after looking at photographs of herself that the Friends star realised she no longer 'looked right,' prompting her to have the fillers dissolved in 2017

In the past, Courteney Cox, 62, admitted that she became so accustomed to having fillers that she failed to notice how much her face had changed. 

It was only after looking at photographs of herself that the Friends star realised she no longer 'looked right,' prompting her to have the fillers dissolved in 2017. 

These days, it appears the actress is much more comfortable with ageing - and has made no secret of wanting her face to move hand-in-hand with time. 

In 2017, she told New Beauty: 'I'm as natural as I can be. I feel better because I look like myself. I think that I now look more like the person that I was. I hope I do.'

Anastasia commented: 'In earlier pictures, Courteney's face appeared fuller and slightly puffier, which can sometimes be associated with filler. More recently, her face looks much more natural, but without obvious signs of significant volume loss. 

'That could suggest that rather than stopping filler altogether, she may have moved towards smaller, more strategically placed amounts to preserve volume without creating heaviness.'

Melanie Griffith 

Then: Melanie Griffith has been open about her experience with cosmetic treatments, including injections to tackle signs of ageing in her 50s

Now: The 69-year-old actress eventually admitted her face had become too altered and decided to have the work dissolved

Melanie Griffith has been open about her experience with cosmetic treatments, including injections to tackle signs of ageing in her 50s. 

The 69-year-old actress eventually admitted her face had become too altered and decided to have the work dissolved, telling Net-a-Porter's Porter magazine: 'I didn't [realise] until people started saying, "Oh my God, what has she done?!" 

'I was so hurt I went to a different doctor and he started dissolving all of this s*** that this other woman doctor had put in. Hopefully, I look more normal now.'

Professor Ali Al-Hussaini of Elevate Medical & Aesthetic Clinic, said: 'Melanie appears to have less facial filler than in previous years, particularly through the cheek area, which could suggest that some filler has been dissolved or allowed to wear down. 

'The result is a softer, less overfilled appearance, with her natural facial contours coming through much more clearly. It's a good example of how reducing excessive volume can create a more natural, healthier-looking result.

Kylie Jenner

Then: Kylie Jenner's decision to dissolve her lip filler in 2018 marked a significant change from the look she had become known for

Now: While her once-full lips helped fuel a major beauty trend, especially on social media, Kylie, 29, has since moved towards an overall more natural appearance

Kylie Jenner's decision to dissolve her lip filler in 2018 marked a significant change from the look she had become known for. 

Responding to a fan who'd noticed a dramatic change in the TV star's appearance on Instagram, she wrote, 'I got rid of all my filler', adding two flushed face emojis and one smiley face emoji. 

While her once-full lips helped fuel a major beauty trend, especially on social media, Kylie, 29, has since moved towards an overall more natural appearance.  

Anastasia: 'Kylie appears to have less facial filler than in previous years, which could suggest that some product has been dissolved or simply allowed to wear down. 

'That said, she still has very balanced facial volume, so it's quite possible that she has since had smaller amounts placed more subtly and strategically.'

Molly-Mae Hague 

Then: Molly-Mae Hague, 27, has also stepped back from the heavily enhanced look she embraced before she first appeared on Love Island in 2019

Now: In October 2020, the reality TV star sensationally announced she dissolved her lip filler and documented the reversal of some of her cosmetic treatments

Molly-Mae Hague, 27, has also stepped back from the heavily enhanced look she embraced before she first appeared on Love Island in 2019. 

In October 2020, the reality TV star sensationally announced she dissolved her lip filler and documented the reversal of some of her cosmetic treatments in a YouTube video, saying she had gone 'too far' and wanted to feel more like herself. 

Dr Tom said: Molly-Mae Hague: Molly-Mae has spoken publicly about having her cheek, jaw and lip filler dissolved, and her face now looks much softer and more natural. 

'She may have since had a very small amount of filler placed strategically, but if so, it's subtle enough that it would be difficult to determine from photographs alone.' 

Megan McKenna 

Then: Megan McKenna has also moved away from the glamorous 'Essex' look she was once known for

Now: The 33-year-old revealed she underwent several rounds of dissolvent to remove her filler and has spoken about wanting a more natural appearance

Megan McKenna has also moved away from the glamorous 'Essex' look she was once known for. 

The former TOWIE star, 33, previously revealed that she became 'embarrassed' by her lip fillers as they'd prevented her from being taken seriously as a singer while pursuing a music career in Nashville. 

During an appearance on Loose Women in 2019, the 33-year-old revealed she underwent several rounds of dissolvent to remove her filler and has spoken about wanting a more natural appearance. 

Dr Tom said: Megan McKenna: Megan's lip profile has noticeably changed. Her lips look less filled and more defined, which gives them a much more natural shape. 

'Her face also appears fuller and slightly puffier in the previous picture, whereas now her features look softer, more refined and more natural overall.'